Advocacy & Safety - Some good news in Santa Cruz, CA

Some good news (http://www.kionrightnow.com/news/local/story.aspx?content_id=8712f4a3-a5b9-45ee-97e3-2fa8d62ea991&rss=172) for cyclists in the Santa Cruz area of California. We need more signs like these, to educate drivers. I hope you can view the page okay, there's also a video that goes into more detail.

Wow. I wonder if it will bring bicycles into the middle of the lane and decrease friction. I can see reading motorist complaints of cocky cyclists slowing everyone down. You should report back after they implement the signs.

I've always wondered about the ramifications of signs like these on the idiot when he/she is motoring on roads without said signage. For example, there is a local intersection that has a sign along the right-hand turn lane that reads "Yield to vehicles making u-turns". Well...duh. You always yield to any vehicle making a u-turn when at a crossing street. But the implication of having a sign such as this in only one spot gives the impression it's only there that such a rule exists.

Are cyclist's allowed full use of any lane that is substandard width in CA?

similar signs have been in use in San Francisco for at least several years now

Years ago, when riding around NYC, I used to take lanes when I needed to and just went for it, not thinking of the consequences.

Now that I'm older and often will have my daughter with me, who is not a strong rider, we will walk the bikes, off the narrow stretch of road. Personally, if I don't like the look of the road, I'll try to avoid riding on it, regardless of the law supporting my riding in the lane or not. I'd rather be able to live to ride again, than try to force the issue with clueless drivers. The other day, while alone, I exercised my right to the road, one with very little traffic but also one with no shoulder and high curbs about 4 inches from the white line. I got squeezed pretty badly by a van driver, who didn't seem to care that I was climbing a hill and my front wheel was wobbling somewhat. :eek:
I finished the ride without stopping, but later decided to just back off and walk the bike when I have to, so as to enjoy the ride and come home in one piece.
The most recent story of the guy who was knocked down by a very heavy truck in Santa Cruz was horrible. He was literally smushed under the wheels, and the driver didn't even know it! :(

Yay!
Look real close at the background at 1:20 or so: Bike Church
Awesome bike co-op, recently purchased a lifetime membership.

Are cyclist's allowed full use of any lane that is substandard width in CA?

Yes: http://www.dmv.ca.gov/pubs/vctop/d11/vc21202.htm

The other day, while alone, I exercised my right to the road, one with very little traffic but also one with no shoulder and high curbs about 4 inches from the white line. I got squeezed pretty badly by a van driver, who didn't seem to care that I was climbing a hill and my front wheel was wobbling somewhat.

I don't want to sound harsh but riding 4 inches into the lane is hardly exercising your right to the road. IMO, if you are going to ride in a narrow lane and do not want to share the lane (which almost all of the time is the case in a narrow lane), make it painfully obvious that you don't want to share. Instead of 4 inches, try 4 feet or more depending on circumstances. If you're really worried about same direction traffic, learn to use a mirror and monitor traffic as it approaches you. You'll find, overall, much more reasonable responses from traffic when you are sending clear signals, such as being 4 feet into a narrow lane that you don't want to share, than when sending ambiguous signals such as being 4 inches into the lane appearing like you are trying your best to just stay out of the way.

I think WPeabody meant that the fog line was 4" from the curb, not that they were cycling 4" from fog line or curb.

Al

Yep noisebeam, that's what I meant. :)

But I see your point joejack, and I've found just from trial and error in the past, that it certainly is better to just go further toward the middle of the lane so the driver approaching (these are 35 mph speed limit roads with plenty of visibility) has to wait until the lane clears for them to pass properly. Some days though, I get so frustrated, "Aargh, can't seem to ride anywhere without some kind of hassle, why can't bikes just fly?"
Eh. Because then we'd have to be in contact with air traffic control and more likely get buzzed by motorized airplanes... sigh. :rolleyes:

Yep noisebeam, that's what I meant. :)

But I see your point joejack, and I've found just from trial and error in the past, that it certainly is better to just go further toward the middle of the lane so the driver approaching (these are 35 mph speed limit roads with plenty of visibility) has to wait until the lane clears for them to pass properly. Some days though, I get so frustrated, "Aargh, can't seem to ride anywhere without some kind of hassle, why can't bikes just fly?"
Eh. Because then we'd have to be in contact with air traffic control and more likely get buzzed by motorized airplanes... sigh. :rolleyes:

Gotta agree... some days it does "just get old." At times I have felt like I am trying to retrain each and every darn motorist I meet.

Sorry for the misunderstanding, WPeabody :o

No problem, wasn't offended, I'm here to learn. :)